U.S. Department of Labor – New Overtime Rule

On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced the new federal overtime rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). As a result of the new rule, over 4,000,000 workers will become entitled to overtime pay when they work extra hours. The rule becomes effective December 1, 2016.

The rule focuses primarily on updating the salary and compensation levels needed for Executive, Administrative, and Professional workers to be exempt, and changes the salary level that must be met before an employee can be exempt from overtime. The new minimum salary threshold will increase to $913 per week, $47,476 annually, and will apply to nearly all employees — an employee paid less than this threshold amount will be guaranteed overtime pay. The new federal threshold of $47,476 annually is more than double the current threshold of $23,660 annually ($455 a week), which has been in place since 2004.

Other Key Provisions of the New Rule:

The rule establishes a mechanism for automatically updating the minimum salary threshold and compensation levels every three years, with the first automatic update occurring January 1, 2020;

The rule amends the salary basis test to allow employers to use nondiscretionary bonuses, commissions, and incentive payments to satisfy up to 10% of the new standard salary level;

The total annual compensation threshold for the “highly compensated employee” (“HCE”) overtime exemption will increase from $100,000 to $134,000, a figure the Department of Labor says represents the 90th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers nationally; and

An employee must meet both the salary threshold and a “duties” test to be exempt from overtime. The DOL left the federal duties test alone. However under the new rule, no matter what the duties are, a worker is not exempt unless the minimum salary level test is met.

Under the new rule, more Washington employees will be classified as nonexempt and will be entitled to overtime pay because they do not meet the federal minimum salary threshold. While the attached chart provided by the White House shows the largest impact will be in California (392,084 workers), it is estimated that only 75,574 Washington workers and 46,019 Oregon workers will be affected.

While the new rule is intended to bring a boost to workers’ wallets, small businesses may worry how to prepare and adjust. To avoid compliance issues, employers will want to prepare for the December 1 deadline. Take the opportunity now to evaluate employee classifications and job descriptions to determine any necessary changes in employee status. If not already in place, employers will need to implement adequate methods to track employee time. Finally, in response to the new rule, employers can take the following actions: (1) pay workers for overtime work; (2) raise salaries above the new threshold; (3) limit workers to 40 hours per week; or (4) some combination thereof.

To see a state-by-state breakdown of workers affected by the new overtime regulation, click here.